SANTA FE — The Senate Finance Committee temporarily tabled legislation Monday night that would have increased the annual distribution from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to provide more funding for early childhood education.

The committee voted 8-2 to prevent the legislation from moving forward.

Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, had blocked a vote on the bill last year, saying he was doing so to protect the members of his committee. That led to a year-long campaign criticizing Smith, which he addressed Monday.

"I recognize as much as anybody that this is an extremely emotional issue. I have been a larger target than any member of the New Mexico Legislature," he said.

Smith said it is disappointing to be characterized as being against children. He pointed out that his wife teaches kindergarten, and that he cosponsored legislation to increase funding for kindergarten programs.

"The ads against me have been directed in such a way as to suggest that I could care less about kids, and I take offense to that," he said.

When Smith asked to see a show of hands as to who supported the bill, nearly every hand in the audience shot up.

Veronica Garcia, the state's first secretary of education under Bill Richardson who is now with New Mexico Voices for Children, said that skimping on early childhood education would be the same as a person saying they didn't have enough money to get their teeth clean, only to be hit with big dental bills down the road.

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"Everybody says wait until a rainy day. What more do we need? It's pouring. We're 50th," added parent Raquel Roybal, noting that New Mexico recently ranked last in a national survey of childhood well-being.

Only two people spoke against the bill — one from the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce and the other from the New Mexico Business Coalition. Both said the additional distribution would deplete the permanent fund.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, who sponsored the measure, disputed that. The fund currently has $12.1 billion, he said, and would continue to grow by 3 or 4 percent a year even with the additional distribution. And, he noted the bill had a provision that the distribution would revert back to the current level if the fund were to drop below $10 billion, or at any other time with a three-fifths vote of the Legislature.

"We understand the philosophical differences, but we believe this is in the best interests of the children of New Mexico," he said. He said an investment now will pay off down the road with children doing better in school and being less likely to get in trouble with the law later in life.

All of the members of the committee said they support early childhood education, but didn't think the funding should come from the permanent fund.

"I believe every child should have a good education, I just don't believe this is the proper funding source to do it," said Sen. William Burt, R-Alamogordo.

Smith pointed out that because the proposal would add a new beneficiary, it would have to be approved by Congress, even if it were to pass the Legislature and later win voter endorsement in the November election.

"We have to take this kind of chance," Sanchez urged before the vote was taken. "We would see such an immediate improvement within that first 10 years."

"I hear you. I understand what you're saying, but the bottom line is we are doing something different now," Smith said. "I want to fund it in an accountable fashion."

Before the final vote, the committee deadlocked 5-5 on an amendment that would have reduced the additional distribution, with Smith joining with Republicans to oppose it. Some Democrats on the committee said that amendment would have made it easier for them to vote for the legislation.

In the end, Sens. Howie Moraeles, D-Silver City, and Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe, cast the only votes in favor of the proposal.

A temporary table motion means the measure could be brought back, but that's unlikely with just three days remaining.

Walter Rubel can be reached at 575-541-5441. For full coverage of the Legislative session, visit www.lcsun-news.com/new_mexico-legislation.

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